Eastwood is the name, walking is the game

Eastwood is the name, walking is the game by ANITA SMITH, News staff write. r She was a widow, having lost her husband to heart disease in 1972. Retired, and with some time on her hands, she spent some it taking long walks for her health. He was a widower, whose wife died of cancer in 1976. He, too, was retired, had some time on his hands and liked to take lingering strolls for his health. The two of them--Opal and Donald Young--met and fell in love while at Eastwood Mall taking those long walks in 1977. They were married in last September. "Donald and I did most of our courting right out here in the mall, where we took our walks every day," says Mrs. Young. Then, with a smile, she adds, "Donald told me his name was Young. He said if I married him I'd never be old, that I'd always be young . . . . He was right." The Youngs--she's 59, he's 76--work hard daily at staying young and active. Part of their daily regimen still includes taking those long brisk walks that brought them together. Not only the Youngs...
The Youngs are among a growing number of people who go to Eastwood Mall to do their walking and visiting with friends.
"The mall is cool in the summer, warm in the winter , and the carpet feels good to your feet," said retired jeweler Ralph Hill, whose doctor advised him to begin a daily walking program after he suffered a heart attack. Some days, Hill's wife, Martha, accompanies him on his walks through the mall.
Another reason walkers say they particularly like to walk in Eastwood Mall is that it's a one-story mall, which, they say, makes it easier to weave in and out of traffic.
"Too, here at Eastwood it's easy for the walkers to know exactly how far they've walked, because it's exactly a mile through the mall if you walk in and out of each arcade while walking through," said Eastwood Mall merchant Dot Benton, who runs a flower shop in the center of the mall and has become friends with some of the walkers.
"If you don't go all the way to the door at the end of each arcade, then you haven't walked your mile, and you're cheating." she laughs.
Walkers of all kinds....
Walkers come in all varieties. Some are retired. Others are still employed. Some have had heart attacks or other health problems and are walking because their doctors advised them to. Others just do it for exercise.
One walker who does her walking alone comes decked out in a straw hat and tennis shoes. She walks very rapidly, and some who watch her every day report she can cover the entire mile of the mall in 12 minutes flat.
"She's talented at weaving in and out of the crowds as she walks," says one observer.
Some walkers make it a point to schedule their walk at the same time every day, so they will be sure to run into friends they have made. In fact, some actually meet there.
One such group comes in the early afternoon. It is a group of retired men--a retired food broker, a retired pharmacist and some retired railroad employees. They have become good friends--such good friends, in fact, that some of the men have been keeping tabs on the retired food broker who has been ill recently.
"Oh, I plan to go back to the mall and start my walking again just as soon as my doctor says I can," said the retired food broker, 74. "It's just a fine place to go. You meet some nice people, and it does everybody good to get out and walk around a little."
Duo of benfits....
Many of the walkers say they get two main things out of their daily strolls--friendship and better health.
Arnie Stone, who accompanies her husband, Byron, when he comes for his daily walks, says "Meeting and talking with all these people out here is like having another little family."
Violet McDowell, who walks at the mall daily, says she and her husband, Cleve, have made many friends at the mall. She recalls that last year, when he husband was in the hospital, "People who knew us out here at the mall got together, signed a big get-well card and sent it to him."
As for health benefits, many of the walkers say it makes all the difference in the world in how they feel. Some say they seem to have more zip and energy when they walk.
"One thing a good walk can do is to make a person feel better. It just helps to get rid of some of the daily stresses that plague us all," said Dr. John M. Packard, director of medical education at Baptist Medical Centers and a member of the national Emergency Cardiac Care Committee for the American Heart Association.
The Heart Association recommends that a person see a doctor for recommendations on the ideal exercise program for his own needs--whether that be walking, jogging, swimming or whatever.
No rockers please....
As for the walkers at Eastwood Mall, they're not about to give up for anything. Opal Young, for example, not only found her husband while walking, she also feels she finds one of the secrets to staying young by walking every day.
"Before I retired, I worked for General Motors and thus became very familiar with GM's emphasis on preventive maintenance for cars," says Mrs. Young. "And I think many people take better care of their cars than they do of their own health.
"To me, this walking program Donald and I are on is helping to take care of our health. We don't have any major health problems now. I think our walking is helping to prevent some problems. And the beautiful part is that all this walking is free!"
Donald Young agrees with his bride. "I was accustomed to working and being active every day before I retired. After I retired, I couldn't just sit down in a rocking chair," he says. "I think if you do that, sooner or later that ole rocking chair will get you."

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Eastwood is the name, walking is the game by ANITA SMITH, News staff write. r She was a widow, having lost her husband to heart disease in 1972. Retired, and with some time on her hands, she spent some it taking long walks for her health. He was a widower, whose wife died of cancer in 1976. He, too, was retired, had some time on his hands and liked to take lingering strolls for his health. The two of them--Opal and Donald Young--met and fell in love while at Eastwood Mall taking those long walks in 1977. They were married in last September. "Donald and I did most of our courting right out here in the mall, where we took our walks every day," says Mrs. Young. Then, with a smile, she adds, "Donald told me his name was Young. He said if I married him I'd never be old, that I'd always be young . . . . He was right." The Youngs--she's 59, he's 76--work hard daily at staying young and active. Part of their daily regimen still includes taking those long brisk walks that brought them together. Not only the Youngs...
The Youngs are among a growing number of people who go to Eastwood Mall to do their walking and visiting with friends.
"The mall is cool in the summer, warm in the winter , and the carpet feels good to your feet," said retired jeweler Ralph Hill, whose doctor advised him to begin a daily walking program after he suffered a heart attack. Some days, Hill's wife, Martha, accompanies him on his walks through the mall.
Another reason walkers say they particularly like to walk in Eastwood Mall is that it's a one-story mall, which, they say, makes it easier to weave in and out of traffic.
"Too, here at Eastwood it's easy for the walkers to know exactly how far they've walked, because it's exactly a mile through the mall if you walk in and out of each arcade while walking through," said Eastwood Mall merchant Dot Benton, who runs a flower shop in the center of the mall and has become friends with some of the walkers.
"If you don't go all the way to the door at the end of each arcade, then you haven't walked your mile, and you're cheating." she laughs.
Walkers of all kinds....
Walkers come in all varieties. Some are retired. Others are still employed. Some have had heart attacks or other health problems and are walking because their doctors advised them to. Others just do it for exercise.
One walker who does her walking alone comes decked out in a straw hat and tennis shoes. She walks very rapidly, and some who watch her every day report she can cover the entire mile of the mall in 12 minutes flat.
"She's talented at weaving in and out of the crowds as she walks," says one observer.
Some walkers make it a point to schedule their walk at the same time every day, so they will be sure to run into friends they have made. In fact, some actually meet there.
One such group comes in the early afternoon. It is a group of retired men--a retired food broker, a retired pharmacist and some retired railroad employees. They have become good friends--such good friends, in fact, that some of the men have been keeping tabs on the retired food broker who has been ill recently.
"Oh, I plan to go back to the mall and start my walking again just as soon as my doctor says I can," said the retired food broker, 74. "It's just a fine place to go. You meet some nice people, and it does everybody good to get out and walk around a little."
Duo of benfits....
Many of the walkers say they get two main things out of their daily strolls--friendship and better health.
Arnie Stone, who accompanies her husband, Byron, when he comes for his daily walks, says "Meeting and talking with all these people out here is like having another little family."
Violet McDowell, who walks at the mall daily, says she and her husband, Cleve, have made many friends at the mall. She recalls that last year, when he husband was in the hospital, "People who knew us out here at the mall got together, signed a big get-well card and sent it to him."
As for health benefits, many of the walkers say it makes all the difference in the world in how they feel. Some say they seem to have more zip and energy when they walk.
"One thing a good walk can do is to make a person feel better. It just helps to get rid of some of the daily stresses that plague us all," said Dr. John M. Packard, director of medical education at Baptist Medical Centers and a member of the national Emergency Cardiac Care Committee for the American Heart Association.
The Heart Association recommends that a person see a doctor for recommendations on the ideal exercise program for his own needs--whether that be walking, jogging, swimming or whatever.
No rockers please....
As for the walkers at Eastwood Mall, they're not about to give up for anything. Opal Young, for example, not only found her husband while walking, she also feels she finds one of the secrets to staying young by walking every day.
"Before I retired, I worked for General Motors and thus became very familiar with GM's emphasis on preventive maintenance for cars," says Mrs. Young. "And I think many people take better care of their cars than they do of their own health.
"To me, this walking program Donald and I are on is helping to take care of our health. We don't have any major health problems now. I think our walking is helping to prevent some problems. And the beautiful part is that all this walking is free!"
Donald Young agrees with his bride. "I was accustomed to working and being active every day before I retired. After I retired, I couldn't just sit down in a rocking chair," he says. "I think if you do that, sooner or later that ole rocking chair will get you."